@@@Getting Ready for Hadley@@@

We have really been "nesting" as people put it!  We are so excited to bring you home and love on you a million times over.   It's been so exciting.  Everything is getting "baby-proofed".  We had the house deep cleaned from top to bottom, Daddy has overhauled the yard, we have your play toys set up, and all of your big items - stroller, high chair, swing, bassinette(s), glider, etc...they are all put together. 
Your nursery is done and all of your clothes, blankets, and towels are washed.   Mommy's suitcase is packed for the hospital.  It's about that time! 

Doggies know something is up!!

Still putting shower things away!

Canopy Crown and Prince Sign

Bow board!  yep, it's almost full :)

Clothes, Clothes, and More Clothes!

Crib, Glider, and Storybook bin

Baby Shower!

Hello Miss Hadley!
Mommy's baby shower was on Sunday, July 31st at Stonebriar Country Club.  It was such a special event.  60 of Mommy's closest friends, family, clients, and co-workers came to celebrate us and shower us with gifts for your upcoming arrival.  The hostesses were:   Aunt Cathy Atkins, Auntie Anne Wall, and Auntie Amy Clardy.
The color scheme was chocolate brown and pink w/polka dots, just like your nursery.   The menu consisted of a veggie and fruit tray, mac and cheese martinis with toppings, Swedish meatballs, and sesame chicken fingers.  Mommy's favorite was the pink lemonade.  It was so sweet and delicious.  You really liked it!
Auntie Anne got a special cake with Chocolate, Strawberry, and White, and then, there was milk too!  Chocolate milk, strawberry milk, and  plain white milk.  Aunt Cathy bought our favorite cookies from Magnolia bakery in the shapes of carriages, feet, and baby onesies.  Aunt Amy did a scrap-booking station and each person did a page for your scrapbook!  It was such a great idea!  She also did the beautiful centerpieces for the tables.
The present table was overflowing and Mommy had to get started on the gifts or we would have been there all night.  We had so much fun!!   This has been such a fun journey with you, Hadley.  We can't wait for more fun moments.  Love you little one!

Sign-in board

Beautiful (and yummy) cake!

Mommy and Jana - 2 weeks apart!  Hadley and Archer - buddies forever!

WB's!!!   LOVE THESE GIRLS!

Daddy helping Mommy get the gifts!

Mac and Cheese Station!  Yummy!!

"The Sexy Seven" - Bridesmaids and Friends forever!

Scrapbooking station! 

Aunt Cathy and Cousin Caroline

 

Diaper Cake from Anne!

Special news from Lori!!!!!!

31 weeks....and counting!

Hello sweet Hadley Faith...hope you are cooking well in there and aren't getting too comfortable, because in just a few weeks, you will be home with Mommy, Daddy, and your doggy siblings...

Here is a current bump picture of Mommy.  

Here are some current tidbits about what has been going on the past month! 

- Mommy and Daddy have been very busy at our jobs.  Daddy has inventory and Mommy has had a very hectic month with lots of problem files.  We are hoping to get everything done so that we can take maternity and paternity leave. 

-Our favorite songs right now are "Dirt Road Anthem" by Jason Aldean and "Today, I Don't Feel Like Doing Anything" by Bruno Mars.

-Nana and Aunt Cathy will be here in a couple of weeks to celebrate your BABY SHOWER.  It's going to be so fun.  It's going to be pink and chocolate brown themed like your nursery, and the girls are serving strawberry (pink) and chocolate (brown) milk with the cake!  In lieu of cards, the guests are bringing a story book for you, so there will be lots of reading to Miss Hadley.

-We went to Oklahoma for the 4th of July.  It was very hot, but the fireworks were fun.  Chris and Amy went with us and it was a fun road trip.  

-Zeus and Lola are quite fond of one another.  They go in the crate together even.  He is just like Marley from Marley and Me...always into something.  We call him "our baby before the baby". But, we wouldn't have it any other way. 

-Currently, you are measuring 2 weeks early.  I am not sure if that just means you are big, had a growth spurt, or that you will come about 2 weeks early, but we are sure interested in finding out. 

- Mommy's favorite foods right now are:  Kind Bars, anything seafood, stuffed jalapenos or anything with jalapenos it seems, cereal, and what else?...CHOCOLATE MILK, your favorite!

-Daddy got to feel you last night and he could actually make out your body/face/where you were laying...he gets so excited with these new little discoveries and his face lights up. 

-I wish we had more to report, but we take it easy quite a bit.  The Texas heat is hot and after our long work weeks, we just like to be at home relaxing. 

-We had some bump pictures taken on Sunday with Rhiannon...they turned out so cute.  
I will post a few in a separate thread.  
-We have two things to add to the walls on your nursery and then I will post pics for that! 
-I CANNOT WAIT TO HOLD YOU IN MY ARMS! 
-You love to kick at night when I am laying down reading. 

We love you little one! 

Had(all)ley!

Your cousin Caroline loves to call you Had-all-lee, adding an extra syllable in there!  It's so adorable.  She likes to kiss Mommy's tummy too. 

Here is your 26 week sonogram picture.  You are measuring at 2.5 pounds and between 27-28 weeks. I already want to squeeze your chubby cheeks.  

We went in for the one hour glucose testing and the results came back at 117...NORMAL!  I have gained only 13 pounds with you since January.  The doctor is very pleased and this has been a really great pregnancy (knock on wood).  Daddy says that "my body is responding well to the pregnancy".  It makes me laugh. 

He loves to read Shel Silverstein to you at night.  He is going to be such a great Daddy! 

Mommy's friends are already working on the big Baby Shower for you next month.  We cannot wait to finalize your room.  Daddy has finished the painting and we are going to get your crib this weekend.

We love you HADLEY FAITH!

6 months...moving right along!

Today is May 23rd and we are approaching our 6 month mark...

Below is a picture of Mommy and you, Hadley!  We have gained 12 pounds since January.  Not bad my baby girl! 

-Daddy got to feel you kick last night...it was so special.  His face lit up!  He finally knows now what I have been trying to describe for the last 6 weeks. 

-Mommy and Daddy like to go to the gym and swim laps.  It's really good for the labor and muscles and it makes us sleep like babies.  (No pun intended)

-Daddy took us to see one of our favorite bands:  Third Eye Blind on Saturday night.  It was a lot of fun!  Mommy stayed up late...which usually doesn't happen! 

-You really seem to like the Frozen Strawberry Lemonade from McDonald's.  It's a nice sweet treat. 

-We have started your room (or should I say Daddy has)  We are doing it in Chocolate Brown, Taupe, and Pink with polka dots and princesses.  It's so cute!! 

-Speaking of Princesses, Mommy is going to dress up in a princess dress here in about 10 days and go to the ball with Daddy.  It will be a very special night.   A night we have been planning for a very long time! 

-Zeus has had a really upset tummy lately and is so "puppylike".  He loves to get into everything...he ate a whole meatloaf out of the trash the other night.   And no, that didn't contribute to his tummy issues! 

-In and Out burger seems to be the big deal in our community right now.  Why people wait 3 hours for a burger is beyond me or Daddy!!!

-We are getting so excited about seeing you for the first time and holding you.  We love you so much!
-The only problem we have right now is that Mommy's wrists are starting to get sore, which is normal from our books.  Oh, and you like to rest RIGHT on Mommy's bladder, so I use the restroom every 30 min! 

Here is a picture of Mommy:

Mother's Day!

Mother's Day was so special to us!   I am a Mommy to Be, and Daddy made it very special for Mommy!  

Saturday night, we went bowling with Crystal and Edward and had quite a bit of "electrifying" fun...the electricity kept going out, but that didn't stop us from having a great time with them.   Daddy bowled two excellent games!

The next morning, Daddy let the doggies out and then brought Mommy a present - a big pink bag with lots of pretty pink tissue paper - what could it be??   Daddy wanted me to open the present all week, but I kept telling him, NO, we will wait until it's actually Mother's Day.   So, I opened the bag...Daddy got me two charms for my charm bracelet from James Avery.  One was a sterling silver "baby onesie" that we can have engraved with your name, date of birth, and weight!   The other was a charm of our birthstone - sapphire.  Since we are both September babies.   I can't wait for you to get here sweet girl!   He also got a picture frame for your room that says "Mommy, my favorite place is being next to you".  Everyone already knows that your nursery colors are pink and brown.   You already have so many things in your room!! 

We laid around most of the day, which was so much fun...Daddy and Mommy have been on the go quite a lot lately!   We watched movies and TV, and then saw the Dallas Mavs advance to the Western Conference Finals by sweeping the LA Lakers.  Then, Nana treated us to a very nice dinner at Del Frisco's!   It was the perfect day!

You are going to have such a loving family, and we can't wait to love and dote on you, and give you so many happy memories.  

Love, Mommy and Daddy!!

The Royal Wedding!

Hadley, you and Mommy woke up very early and watched the Royal Wedding - Prince William married Kate Middleton.  Friday, April 29th at 11:00 a.m.  The wedding was 6 hours behind here in Texas and we saw it LIVE!   It was such a joyous event.  Every girl dreams of being a princess and having a fairy tell wedding!  I can't wait to marry your daddy - my very own PRINCE WILLIAM! 

It was so cute.  Daddy walked in just as Mommy was crying while they were saying their vows and he named the doggies all British Royalty names!   Lord Tuff Tuff, Duchess of Lolz, and Jester Zeus.  He makes me laugh all the time!!